We stayed here recently and don't think we'll ever do it again. The rooms are very poorly maintained. The blinds were broken, the film on the windows was peeling off. The carpet had stains. Not enough bedding provided. Lighting inside the room was very dull, at least one bright light should be optional. Being located on the street itself made it very uncomfortable. read more

This restaurant is CURRENTLY CLOSED When they are open, which is off and on, it can be decent. Used to have great music. Dough went to Rio Chama, I believe. Open soon so we can try out your new vibe! read more

Vanessie - Screenshot of the website saying it's closed - Bars Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Ive stayed here two other times and i loved it. Unfortunately the inn has taken a nose dive. I will never stay here again, which makes me a little sad. The room had a broken heater and no extra blankets and it was in the 30's the night we arrived. We hardly slept. read more

Vanessie - Bars Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

We were headed out for breakfast and this place was a last minute recommendation. I'm so glad we went. They offer an all you can eat brunch for $13 with live jazz music. The food is self serve; however, staff are attentive and available if you need anything. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful with that Santa Fe style and tall ceilings. Exposed wood and an open feel make the experience even better. The food was delicious. I really enjoyed the French toast wish fresh fruit, granola, jam, and syrup over it. We spoke to the manager for a while and found that they also offer a boozy breakfast, which sounded wonderful. He talked about the bar and restaurant offerings, which we plan to return to try. There is also an Inn, so if you are visiting Santa Fe from elsewhere check that out. This was a great find in Santa Fe! read more

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I visited Vanessie for the Branden & James concert and was seated right in the center which was great. Unfortunately we weren't able to have our friends sit with us despite calling ahead and arriving early. Next time we'll need to purchase our tickets in one transaction since they aren't accommodating of the seating chart for some reason. Other than that, we had a lovely time and enjoyed the live music so much. The waitress we had was prompt, but spoke too loudly and got shushed often from people around us. That took away from the ambiance a bit, but it is a dinner and a show so you'll have servers walking around the whole time. For the food, I had the lamb chops and a few bites of the ribeye. The lamb chops ($30) were on the smaller side and needed a little salt, but I liked the mint chimichurri that accompanied them. The ribeye ($41) was cooked perfectly. We also had truffle fries ($9) that were tasty. read more

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Friendly staff with good service. The art is amazing and well worth the visit. Intimate bar/dining area. Works well for a group. Menu is limited. A few more items would be nice. Most are what I'd call bar food but hey this is a bar, of sorts. read more

Nice place. Better than average service. Over-priced bland food. Will not be returning.

I enjoyed my overnight stay at the Hotel Vanessie near the Plaza in Old Santa Fe. I loved the decor and especially the bathroom and shower design layout. The bed was super-comfortable and the ac unit kept it a near-perfect temperature optimal for sleeping in total comfort. I would like to come here once in a while to escape normal living circumstances! read more

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We held a private event at Vanessie--Dinner followed by drinks and dancing with a DJ. 100 persons. The management and staff set everything up beautifully in advance with black table cloths and flower vases. Everyone ordered off the fixed price or standard menu and all the dishes were fantastic, wow were people highly pleased! The waitstaff and bartenders were amazing, friendly, professional, and very attentive. Then staff cleared tables away to make a dance floor. The dance floor, large bar, and amazing artwork created a festive and classy vibe that everyone loved. I highly recommend Vanessie for a cocktail, a dinner, a group event. Ricardo, the GM, was easy and outstanding to work with before and during our event, he's A+++. read more

This place is usually too expensive for us but we finally were able to stay and glad we did. While the room needs a bit of maintenance, it was comfortable and nicely decorated. Big plus for the $5 drink coupons and the wonderful breakfast with lots of fresh berries and fruit, hot egg dishes and yummy desserts. I especially like the warm apple pie! read more

Go for the entertainment, but not the food. We made reservations at 7:00, but not needed for a Monday night. We heard that the "piano man" was talented with over 2,000 songs in his head. However, the food is truly horrible. At 7:00, they were out of the Caesar salad. Or perhaps they never purchased lettuce for that night. I had the burger sliders appetizer, which was awful & overcooked. My husband had a pepperoni flat bread pizza, that tasted like a frozen pizza. The piano man was lots of fun, but don't expect much for the food. Only 6 items on the menu. No chicken, meat, or salads. Plus, $10/each cover charge added to our bill. One and done for this place. read more

I have lived in Santa Fe for 27 years and decided to go out on 5/20/21 to celebrate my brother in laws wedding tomorrow, so it was a bachelorette dinner. I thought live music would be nice to hear! The piano player was so loud we could not talk to each other, he had no consideration for the small group trying to dine. I asked if he would play a song for Laura my new sister in law, got her name wrong and didn't play a full song. We ordered two margaritas and one Paloma, they were so distasteful we had to send them back! In Santa Fe... please.... we ordered beer next. The food was ok if you can rate a chopped salad and flatbread as anything to rave about. Did they consider that we were locals and that we were there because Vanessie has longevity in SF, no they didn't think about that! Sorry we will not be recommending Vanessie to any of our out of town guest! read more

The 4 is for the food and service. It's a solid 5 for ambience and decor. I love eating here. It's a threefer. Gallery, fine dining and the best entertainment in all of New Mexico thanks to Doug Montgomery, pianist, raconteur. There was a mixup in one of our entrees. Ok it happens. But it was part of a night where the service lacked a bit. It was a minor glitch balanced by the good food available from a nice menu. Lots of choices in an affordable range of prices. Part of the experience are fellow diners who seem to get into a festive mood just walking through the door. This is a locals favorite as well as a top spot for tourists. You really shouldn't miss Vanessie if you are in Santa Fe for at least three dinners. read more

Good evening, A horrible experience I think I have ever had in Santa Fe. I normally wouldn't do this, but after the interaction we had with the general manger and our ticket was still wrong twice after the promise provided failed I couldn't help but write. We were dining in for NM restaurant week and had some recommendations. We were seated by 7:45pm and didn't even get greeted by our server for approx 20 mins. From there he continued to take drink orders and returned with what we would find would be empty promises due to being out of things. We then waited another 15-18 mins for drinks and 25-30 mins between our courses. We ordered three steaks two cooked medium rare and one medium well. The food runner brought all three steaks and didn't ask or decipher which was which so there were distributed incorrectly. They didn't let the steak rest and proceeded to stack it on top the mash potatoes making bloody mashed potatBy the time he finally asked if we were ready for dessert he returned advising they were out of apple pie. Offered a free creme brûlée and proceeded to charge us. When we spoke with the manager he made sure to tell us we were the only ones who had expressed dissatisfaction and he wished he would have been told prior but how would we know the manager who was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. They promised to remove our glasses of wine and desserts, ticket returned with two glasses of wine and the creme brûlée. We told him and he took it back to adjust and he returned and proceeded to still charge for one glass of wine. We also realized the special was $35 per meal and we ordered a vodka tonic. Our ticket was not charged properly by all means as we were advised desserts were removed which should have made our meal less than $35 per and one drink and we were still charged $156. At this point we didn't want to wait 30 more mins to adjust the forth time not wait for the staff to continue to clearly gossip about us so we left. read more

This place is known as the Messy Vanessie! Poorly run management and food was old. Geez. Get to work chef!!! Operating times are hit or miss... nahhh read more

This hotel is not the high end boutique hotel it claims to be. Their on line photos are not at all what we experienced. It is shabby and not well taken care of. Not only can you see the photos of our room, but there were unacceptable annoyances during our stay such as; the tub didn't hold water, they ration the soaps and coffee, etc. Be aware. read more

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We went for the piano music which is outstanding. However, the food is poor at best. Flatbread is tasteless, burger really salty etc. Not only that but we were overcharged on our bill! Charging us for a bottle of wine instead of a glass. 10 calls to the manager, Lou, and general manager have had no effect, they basically ignore us, probably assuming we're tourists who will leave town soon. If you do go, eat first and be sure to check your bill! I have been many times over the years, the pianists Doug Montgomery and Al Rogers are outstanding entertainers, such a pity they have to put up with terrible management. read more

So, my husband and I accompanied some older friends-of-friends to the piano bar at Vanessie for dinner. It was unclear as to who would be paying for our meal, or else we would have complained to the staff immediately once our food came out, as our compatriots seemed to be okay with what they were eating. We decided not to "cause a scene" among the new people we were dining with, but are angry about this still. We ordered snack-y-ish food, the burger and the "famous grilled cheese," which both were FAR BELOW diner quality and cost $19 and $17, respectively. Truly the worst grilled cheese and burger we've ever had and for the most absurd price. Each came with fries which looked salted but somehow had no flavor? One of them was gray. Honestly the fries tasted like dog food, to me. I know this sounds harsh but this is only one of like two poor food reviews I've ever written in my life and I am not exaggerating. The burger I ordered medium rare came out medium well and also had no flavor. It was served on a "brioche bun" which looked like a sesame bun from Burger King. The burger was said to come with arugula on it: I think I saw one lone piece underneath the patty, sticking out on the edge. The grilled cheese my husband ordered made me laugh when it came out. It was like a joke. The musical aspect of this venue is great. That truly must be the only way the restaurant stays in business. But please, Vanessie, up your food game or lower your meal prices. It was truly abominable and embarrassing and we will never return and tell our coworkers about this awful dining experience. read more

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Gayle and often joke about "Going Clubbing". However (and even on Vacation), we have tendency to retire too early to make a late evening anywhere. However, Gayle's Sister and her Husband are a little more adventurous, especially when it involves good musical entertainment. The highlight of our recent long Santa Fe Weekend was hanging out for 2 evenings at Vanessie's Lounge. We found it by chance as we were walking back to our Hotel. We were reading the outside posting, heard piano and violin music coming from within, and decided to take a look. We had a wonderful time. We were thoroughly entertained by pianist Doug Montgomery as he played his own stuff or took multiple requests. The first night there was a kick ass violinist with him and 2 nights later a semi-retired crooner who still has the pipes. It was a bit of an older crowd both nights, which influenced the music selection. We were enthralled nonetheless with the entertainment, the intimate performance space, and the Southwest art touches on the wall. There was no cover, but we did order drinks and some light notches that complimented the timelessness of the evening. My biggest joy came from watching a truly happy and smiling Gayle and her Sister thoroughly enjoying the music and each other's company. After a generous contribution to the tip jar, we wandered soberly into the night with a tune in our heads, a spring in our steps, and past our bed times. Now that's Clubbing! read more

Doug Montgomery is fantastic. This is a real live piano bar. The music is wonderful! It is in a romantic setting and a very relaxed atmosphere. This place is so special. Doug takes all song requests and he is a phenomenal pianist. He plays a variety of music! He Studied at Juilliard and is truly a gift. He has been here for 30 years and all I can say is if you get a chance go see Doug Montgomery! You will not be disappointed this is truly the place to go! Check on their website to see if he's playing but usually he plays from 6:30 to 9:30! Don't miss Doug Montgomery that's all I can say he's so good! read more

Food was great. Had the ravioli and short rib pasta. Entertainment was extraordinary. What a pleasant surprise. Doug Montgomery is the best piano player I have ever heard. Fine singer, too. The crowd had a marvelous time. Doug brought up several people in the audience to sing. They were all wonderful. One of the most wonderful nights we've had in a long time. This place is a "must do" In Santa Fe. read more

Monday, who would think that a night out could be so much fun? Our group of four arrived early and were seated near the piano with a great view of what was to come. Our waiter greeted us and took our order for a bottle of wine. We ordered small plates to go with our wine. Doug Montgomery started the evening off with familiar songs that got the crowd into the mood for the evening. One after another at the piano his voice filled the room with nostalgic music. In the audience an artist of local fame sang a Marty Robin's song to the cheers of the audience. Doug played for two and one-half hours to the delight of all. Good wine, small plates and the limitless talent of Doug Montgomery made for a remarkable evening. read more

Vanessie's in Santa Fe has a piano bar that is unbelievable. The food is pretty good (try the filet), the drinks are great, but here lies a hidden gem! Here lies a great piano bar. The man making it all happen behind the scene is Doug Montgomery, the pianist. He can play a wide variety of songs and show tunes to classical pieces. He knows the local singers that might come in for a bite or a drink, and gets them to join in with the music. He makes them look great! That is a true talent. (Make sure you call ahead to find out if he is playing!) To go to Santa Fe and miss hearing Doug Montgomery play at the piano at Vanessie's in Santa Fe is something not to pass up. See you soon Doug! read more

Food and entertainment were great, as were most waiters, except ours. We had just as much money to spend on food as everyone else, but we were not treated as so, being rushed, pushed aside and our needs looked over. So it was a bit annoying when our waiter got up and burst into song with Doug...we wanted to stay but ended up leaving a bit early. This was one of the first places we visited in 2014 on our first trip to Santa Fe while at the beginning of our new relationship, so we had been looking forward to returning at Christmastime. Hoping it was just a one-time fluke. read more

The entertainment was amazing, extremely talented. However, the food and drinks were terrible and overpriced. We got a bottle of $40 rosé, which tasted like Welch's sparkling juice (the nonalcoholic champagne you buy the kids on New Years). The pasta bolognese was tasty but gave my partner a terrible stomachache later (extremely greasy). I got flat bread which was made with a bland, dry flat bread dough that looked like saltine crackers and had about the same texture. My friend's salad had a hair in it. The staff was extremely apologetic and came back with a fresh salad which was a big improvement. Overall, this place might be okay to catch a (sugary/watery) drink and some talented entertainment, but don't stay for dinner. read more

The saving grace for this place was the food. The attitude when we arrived was at best dismissive. We are old and expect that sometimes but this was infuriating. The atmosphere was dreary and in need of a make over. Now the best point....the food was very good. There is a piano bar that was active with some woman making the best of her limited vocal talents. Mixed bag. Go at your own risk. John F. read more

Came to Santa Fe for a girls weekend and from the moment we walked in this place felt annoyed. We were trying to stay somewhere local but do not do it! Go to Hilton! Horrible customer service, misinformation on booking and prices, gym dirty, restaurant poor quality, any time we asked for something it was a hassle, and the list could go on. I was heart broken this place was such a disappointment. read more

This is a restaurant with a large piano bar with a full grand piano flanked by a huge mirror. If I were ranking it solely as a restaurant I'd say the food was good with excellent ambiance but a bit overpriced. But if you are lucky as we were to be there on a night with exceptional talent at the piano, it will be a wonderful evening and a bargain to boot. Check their calendar and if Brandon and James are there on piano and cello, run to your phone to make a reservation. They gave us one of the most enjoyable evenings of our lives. And while you're at it, order the onion loaf. read more

FYI, it's closed now. My husband and I visited pre-pandemic and would have given it four stars for the fun ambiance in the piano bar. Hope they can open it again some day. (I just picked a star rating because that's the only way to let everyone know it's closed.) read more

Go here for the music and DO NOT order food. EXTREMELY overpriced. Ordered a grilled cheese for $17 because it was the cheapest thing as the place looked suspect. It came out looking like it was from Walmart. Same with my wife's burger, which was...$19 - for something I could get from a school cafeteria. Absolutely appalling read more

We had our wedding dinner at Vanessie, and I couldn't have asked for a better venue. The staff set up the Sunset Patio Room beautifully and they were very helpful and attentive throughout the planning and evening of the dinner. Our personally selected menu gave our guests a choice of prime rib, salmon or pasta primavera and all of it was delicious. Toward the end of the evening, pianist Doug Montgomery played a special request, "La Vie En Rose" for our wedding dance. It was a magical evening--everything I hoped for! Thank you to everyone at Vanessie! read more

I would both return and recommend. Just a few opportunities to improve the experience. We arrived on time for our 630 yelp reservation on a Tues eve. When you enter, there is an adobe pony wall that gives you the impression someone should greet/seat you there. That's not the case. We wandered around without acknowledgement until we finally asked a server near the kitchen about where to check in. In my opinion, this was the only flaw in the evening. I suggest just putting a sign on that wall that says "welcome, please seat yourself. Bar in the front, restaurant in the back." After the initial confusion, our server, Austin, was very attentive. I ordered the grilled salmon and my date had the calamari fettuccine. Both were delicious and properly-sized portions. We shared the apple pie for dessert, which was huge - about 1/4 of a pie! After dinner we retired into the piano bar where Esther was playing as a sub for Doug Montgomery. She was awesome. Knew nearly every song from memory and made lively banter with her audience. The server in the bar was not only hustling, he was a talented singer who joined Esther for a beautiful rendition of "Time to say Goodbye." Esther played "The Rose" for my wife and I, which was a song my wife sang to me at our wedding 30 years earlier. Many of the people in the piano bar were eating full meals, so that may explain why the restaurant was so empty. While in the bar, a group of five came in, stood at the entry wall for five minutes. They left just as I was getting ready to cross the room to let them know to sit where they pleased. While it's possible they just wanted to listen, I think it's more likely they were waiting to be acknowledged. Although the restaurant might have benefited from one or two more staff, the people who worked there were giving 100% and seemed to enjoy themselves. All told, our party of two spent about $120 in the restaurant and bar, but that included meal, dessert, drinks and gratuities. This restaurant is upscale without being stuffy and elegant without being overpriced. read more

I have been coming here once every few months for years and always enjoyed it. Now they have gotten rid of all domestic beers. Why all these bars and restaurants are doing that I don't know, I love the piano but I want to enjoy a beer and now I can't. Not everyone likes craft beer! read more

An incredible boutique inn conveniently located a short distance from the historic downtown area. Our room was spacious, clean and comfortable. The bed was especially comfortable and the shower powerful. In the winter months our room has a fireplace that can be used to take the chill out and add a romantic glow to the room. Their piano bar had fantastic entertainment during our stay, and as a bonus there was no cover charge. We only have praise to offer for this establishment and shall be where we shall stay when we return to Santa Fe. read more

Vanessie - Our extremely comfortable room. - Bars Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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2/13/2018 Updated review It only deserves 2 stars, but because of the entertainment, I'm giving it 3. Doug Montgomery is a treasure who had been there since opening day. Unfortunately, the place has been on a downhill slide for the past several years since an inexperienced, disinterested, absentee owner took over. They've lost all their good people (managers, waiters, and bartenders), and now have high staff turnover. The food is mediocre at best, and overpriced. On my most recent visit, I had made reservations. However, upon our arrival, there was no table for us, and the guy who took the reservation neither came out to talk to us, nor offered any apology whatsoever. He was "in the office, on the phone" we were told (for the whole two hours we were there). No one seemed to care at all, and I hear from other regulars (who go for the entertainment) that any feedback falls on deaf ears. I wish they realized that there would be a lot less business if it weren't for Doug. Such a disappointment. But seriously, go out to eat, and then go to Vanessie to see Doug! And please put a tip in the hat! read more

A large open bar - Piano bar on Saturday night. LOTS of old people. Very fun! The central bar area has TVs and good drinks. Make sure to make your piano song request early... some of those blue hairs are MIC hogs! :) clean bathrooms. good service. read more

Disappointing......we are big fans of Vanessie, or have been in the past but last night did not live up to our past experience. We were greeted promptly by a very pleasant young lady who was prompt to bring us water , but our waiter didn't come along for another 15-20 mins. Come in, at least get us a drink. Doug is only playing until 8 now a days, and even though the lady that followed was very talented it was not what we expected. Ordered food, it was good, but to my shock the waiter was much too aggressive with the desert menu (literally put it in front of my face). Truly a turn off. I guess all good things must come to an end, or at least change. read more

We ate here for our anniversary dinner, and it did not disappoint. On the recommendation of friends (and other Yelp reviewers), we made sure to make reservations for an evening when Doug Montgomery would be playing at the piano bar. We arrived a little early and enjoyed a drink at the cozy, old-fashioned bar before being seated for dinner. Before long, the piano room was filled with a a decent-sized crowd for the musician. We were definitely the youngest in attendance by far, but still enjoyed the ambiance and music selection (especially the Billy Joel covers). The food was all-around good (not spectacular) and at a fair price point (by Santa Fe standards, at least). I had the special of roasted chicken tacos with fresh pico de gallo. Next time I will save room for dessert---the specialty after-dinner dessert cocktails and coffee menu looked amazing. Tip: parking for diners (and not guests of the Inn) is in the far parking lot on Water Street. read more

We drove from Houston to Santa Fe on vacation, arriving late on Sunday afternoon, by the time we were settled and ready to eat it was 9:00 pm. We stumbled upon Vanessie by accident. They have a piano man at the bar who is REALLY good and entertaining and all though their kitchen was closing for the day, they welcomed us warmly and fed us a great meal ! Our waitress was warm, attentive, caring and friendly going over the menu with us and helping us make our selections The calamari with a sweet chili sauce is delicious, the fish and chips was also very very good, fish has a very light crunchy batter. I had the burger with the arugula salad and both were delicious So glad we found this place read more

I had dinner here while on a business trip. I was drawn by the fact that it participates in United's Mileage Plus dining program (if I am travelling on business I like to earn miles outta my expense account). Anyway, I tend to regard places I find using the Mileage Plus dining program to be soft on the gastronomy (read: below average food quality) and more focused on marketing. They're usually pretty cookie cutter places that just serve food off the Sysco truck. Some break that mold, but in general, that's how I feel. Vanessie fits that mold pretty consistently. The decor is standard New Mexican. I had a pulled pork sandwich to start and was still hungry so I had the filet. The meat quality on both dishes was standard foodservice grades. There was no indication that it was premium meats, and every indication that the meat had likely been frozen and was not a premium cut. Seasoning, sides, etc all appeared pretty flat and standard-fare for, like I said earlier, being pulled right off a Sysco truck and prepped by a quick-serve kitchen staff. The restaurant strives to come off as a "fine dining" establishment or a great "steakhouse", but I think they miss the mark on the food. The decor/ambiance/facility does go in that direction, but the most important aspect of hitting those labels has to be borne out in the food - and at Venessie, it's not. The prices aren't low, either. I'd agree with some of the other reviews if the prices were 35%-50% lower (depending on items), but for $36 I expect a better "filet" than is served at somewhere like Applebees. Granted, I won't get dry-aged Wagyu, but honestly, this place is serving up thawed bulk foodservice meats - not locally sourced never-frozen stuff - and that's what I expect at this price point. read more